Improvement in keys for piano-fortes



U. PRATT.

I KEYS FOR PIANOFOR'I'ES, m. No.174,002. Patented Feb. 22,1815.

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ULYSSES PRATT, OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEY S FOR PlANO-FORTES, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,002, dated February 22, 1876; application filed October 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ULYssEs PRATT, of Deep River, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Keys for Piano- Fortes, Organs, and other MusicalInstruments; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

This invention relates to keys for pianofortes, organs, melodeons, and other musical instruments having a molding at their front ends, for the purpose of adding to the richness or handsome appearance of said keys. This front-end molding it is admissible, for several reasons, to make separate and distinct from the veneer which covers the top of the key. Thus, while it is desirable to have the top veneer of ivory, on account of such material presenting a pleasanter touch-surface, the front-end molding may be of difi'erent and cheaper material, or, when of ivory, may be made from scrap.

My invention consists in a novel attachment of such separate front-end molding, whereby it may be more effectually secured to its place on the key, and so that, it'desired, the key will present a white exposed edge or side when the instrument is being played. To these ends, or either ofthem, said molding is constructed so that it may be inserted between the wood of the key and the top veneer.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent side views of the white key of a piano-forte, showing different lengths of the front-end molding under the top veneer of the key, also difi'erent constructions of the front end of the latter, and Fig. 4, a similar view of the key, with the frontend molding constructed to show a white edge on the upper or exposed side of the key when the instrument is in use.

A is the Wood of the key and b the top veneer, which may be a thin facing of ivory, in two or more sections, as usual. C is the separate front-end molding, which might be made of white wood, or even of ivory; but I prefer to use some cheaper material than the latter, as, for instance, bone, celluloid, porce lain, or glass of a white and opaque description. Said molding may be of any desired profile in its vertical section, and may be-extended either wholly down the front of the key, as in Fig. 1, or only partly down the front, as in Figs. 2 and 3, and with or without an interposed facing-piece, c, for securing its adhesion to the front of the wood A, and, when extending only partly down the front of the key, with or without a separate veneer, d, on the lower portion of the front end of the key, all as shownin the different figures of the drawing.

This molding C is constructed to extend .over the top of the wood A of the key and between said wood and the top veneer b. This backward extension of the front-end molding C may either be for only a limited distance from the front end of the key or throughout the greater or any lesser portion ofthe length of the latter. as shown in the different figures of thedrawing; but in any case the insertion of said molding between the wood of the key and the top veneer serves to securely hold. it to its place on the key. Such molding C may be of any thickness, and the backward extension of it, which provides for its insertion between the wood A and top veneer b, may either be of a reduced thickness at its junction with the forward portion of said molding, as shown, for instance, in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or it may be of any desired greater thickness, so as to show a white edge on the exposed upper portion of the side of the key when the instrument is in use. Thus the molding maybe only gradually reduced backward from its depth in front, as shown in Fig. 4. l

I claim The front-end molding C, constructed to extend and inserted between the wood A of the key and its top veneer 11, substantially as specified. 1

' ULYSSE'S PRATT.

Witnesses:

HENRY '1. BROWN, MICHAEL RYAN. 

